Tamarillos

 

Known as "tree tomatoes" when we were kids these also go by the Spanish sounding name of tamarillos. They are South American in origin and were brought to NZ decades ago when our DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) were seeking out edibles from around the world that could be turned into commercial crops here.

Kiwifruit? You know those? They were Chinese Gooseberries when they arrived on these shores.

Yams? Yeah well our yams aren't your yams...

You might call these oca if you call them anything at all.

And as for the tree tomatoes, I'm not sure anyone has yet commercialised these to the point of export. I saw them in a fruit shop in UK once in 30 years there and they were labelled simply "exotic fruit". No kidding!

They ripen here in late May and June. My brother, whose birthday is end of May, always requested them as birthday food. He still does. I'm living where I should be able to grow my own....here's hoping because I too prize these above all other "every day" fruits. In a world that can provide us with apples, bananas, oranges, even melons and pineapples all year round, it's nice to have the excitement and anticipation of waiting for something that is only available in it's season.